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This report presents a snapshot of public health preparedness and response activities during 2013 and 2014. Information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR), as well as performance data for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement awardees, are highlighted throughout.

Key accomplishments:

• Due in large part to PHEP funding and other preparedness investments, the nation is better prepared to prevent and respond to public health emergencies now than before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

• Over the past 3 years PHEP awardees have improved capacity in nearly all high priority public health preparedness capabilities.

• „ CDC improved health security by continuously monitoring health threats and preparing the country to be resilient when emergencies arise. During 2013, PHPR:

• » Triaged over 20,000 calls from clinicians, public health agencies, and the public to appropriate subject matter experts including epidemiologists, laboratorians, and biosafety experts.

• » Conducted two notification drills with PHEP awardees to test communication systems between CDC, laboratorians, and epidemiologists. Eighty-three percent of awardees met the 45-minute response time target in the first drill; 94% met the target in the second drill.

• » Engaged in 585 Emergency Management Program activities in the U.S. and abroad, including 200 exercises and activations in 28 countries.

• During 2013,131 CDC field staff were assigned to 50 different PHEP awardee locations. These staff filled critical roles in epidemiology, medical countermeasure management, and technical assistance and were prepared if called upon to assist during public health emergencies.

• PHPR improved collaborations with federal partners, such as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; state and local public health departments; nongovernmental organizations; and other countries to prevent and respond to public health emergencies.